Isovector pairing in odd-A proton-rich nuclei

A simple model based on the group SO(5) suggests that both the likeparticle and neutron-proton components of isovector pairing correlations in odd-A nuclei are Pauli blocked. The same effect emerges from Monte Carlo Shell-model calculations of proton-rich nuclei in the full fp shell. There are small differences between the two models in their representation of the effects of an odd nucleon on the competition between like-particle and neutron-proton pairing, but they can be understood and reduced by using a two-level version of the SO(5) model. On the other hand, in odd-odd nuclei with N 6= Z, SO(5) disagrees more severely with the shell model because it incorrectly predicts ground-state isospins. The shell model calculations for any fp-shell nuclei can be extended to finite temperature, where they show a decrease in blocking.